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INSIDE
m w duilytrojun.com
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
Thursday, October 30, 2003
The Coliseum, USCi home since 1923, still gives the Trojans an advantage 20
Vol. CXL1V, No. 46
Living in the wildfires’ wake
Students share fire Iraunia
i\'iu nations, dose culls and delayed flights among the experiences students have hud to face
BY GREG DAM1AN0
Staff Wntri
A.s wildfires twist and turn through Southern California, l)S( students and families throughout the state are feeling its impact
Natalie Umof, Melissa Drachand and Marni Landes are three stu dents who have been threatened by the disaster
At press time, wildfires had consumed 950 square miles and 1,600 homes, leaving 20 dead and causing $2 billion in losses. The Cedar Fire m San Diego has been declared the biggest fire in California history.
Umof, an undeclared sopho more, had received evacuation warnings for another fire last year around the same time but suffered I see Hr*, page IB I
» Courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory
Aerial. In this satellite photo taken Tuesday, wildfires send smoke across Southern California. At left center, Los Angeles is partially visible; at lower right, San Diego is completely hidden under the smoke.
Air quality expected to improve
Students who feel ill from smoke and ash in an should avoid the outdoors.
By CARA PRYOR
( ontributliig Wrltei
Students experiencing discom fort from the ash and smoke that has lingered in the Los Angeles area foi the past week from nearby wildfires may begin to feel some relief as cool ei temperatures Wednesday helped to dissipate the grit.
"It will take about a week for (the smoke particles) to naturally go away,” said Ronald Henry, pro fessor of civil and environmental engineering
The smoke particles are “so small that the force of gravity isn't enough to make them settle out of the atmosphere," he added.
Heavy smoke around campus has not been an issue for students in the urgent care facility at the University Park Health Center this past week, but students with asthma should be “particularly cautious,” said Dr. Lawrence Neinstein, execu tive director of the Health Center.
I see Air, page 13 I
Apartment complex marred by rat holes and droppings
Housing officials say that exterminators are working to fix the problem. Trash may he to blame for the problem.
Return of an old tradition
By LIDIANA PORTALES
Staff Writer
At Seven Gables Apartments on 30th Street, rat holes are scattered across the front lawn. Next door, at a neighboring donut shop, thick black lines mark the places where rats scurry up and down the side of the building.
Most residents at Seven Gables said they have not seen or heard rats inside their building since the beginning of the year, when USC Housing Services sent exterminators. A rodent problem persists outside their door, however.
Some students blame stagnant
INDEX
Even thr< months, offers su
water for attracting rats, and some local shopkeepers from a nearby shopping center blame piles of trash.
Bobby Drury, a graduate student in dentistry, said the rats scurry about after dark, attracted to the water gathered in potholes along the streets.
“The city was supposed to fix (the street) because you aren't supposed to have standing water," Drury said. “It smells horrible and it attracts rats.”
It is not clear whether the rat problem was caused by standing water or if other sanitary issues were to blame, said Jeff Urdahl, director of I see Rata, page 14 I
Homecoming parade hits Hahn Plaza Wednesday for first time in decades
BySUSHMA SUBRAMANIAN
Staff Writer
Cavemen holding clubs, girls in “Viva Las Vegas" attire and a big stuffed mastodon were just some of sights at the Homecoming Parade Wednesday.
Students crowded around Hahn Plaza to watch the first Homecoming parade in more than 30 years with about a dozen floats made by students. The marching band led the floats.
“We don’t know how many years exactly it’s been since the last Homecoming parade, but the last pictures we have of the parade are in black and white," said Heather Larabee, director of campus activities, who organized the event
The parade used to be held on Figueroa Street While yesterday’s parade wound around campus, starting at McCarthy Quad, organizers of the event say they hope the parade will be big enough in 10 years to shut down Exposition Boulevard.
Student groups and Greek organizations built their floats in four hours Tuesday evening, but began planning the structures two to three weeks ago.
Most of the floats were made by decorating campus golf carts. The only parts of the floats that were built ahead of time were parts that needed to be painted or glued so that float
Paniel Wong I Daily Troian
Parade. The Student Senate float is one of many floats to uphold the theme of ‘Clubbing the Cougar."
builders would not have to wait for parts to dry.
The results of the float competition will be announced with the coronation of Mr. and Miss USC at Tommy Trojan at 7 pjn. Thursday at Hahn Plaza.
“I think ours was the best" said Tanisha Hadley, a sophomore majoring in international relations and a member of the Helenes.
The Helenes’ float featured-playing cards, dice and poker chips with the theme of “Viva Las Vegas."
Other floats, with the theme of “dub the Cougars," a reference to the Trojans’ Homecoming opponent Washington State included a safari-themed vehicle with a tent of leaves by
Delta Gamma and Sigma Chi and a Flintstones family car with Dino’s head sticking out of the roof by Century Apartments.
Larabee approached the Campus Activities Leadership Council with the idea for a homecoming parade last year.
“Since I’ve been here, Homecoming has always been directed to the alumni,” Larabee said. “We needed something for the students."
Bobby Gilmore, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism, said the parade would help spark student spirit
“This is really cool because it’s like rallying the troops,” he said. “Hopefully it will bring more people out to the game."

INSIDE
m w duilytrojun.com
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
Thursday, October 30, 2003
The Coliseum, USCi home since 1923, still gives the Trojans an advantage 20
Vol. CXL1V, No. 46
Living in the wildfires’ wake
Students share fire Iraunia
i\'iu nations, dose culls and delayed flights among the experiences students have hud to face
BY GREG DAM1AN0
Staff Wntri
A.s wildfires twist and turn through Southern California, l)S( students and families throughout the state are feeling its impact
Natalie Umof, Melissa Drachand and Marni Landes are three stu dents who have been threatened by the disaster
At press time, wildfires had consumed 950 square miles and 1,600 homes, leaving 20 dead and causing $2 billion in losses. The Cedar Fire m San Diego has been declared the biggest fire in California history.
Umof, an undeclared sopho more, had received evacuation warnings for another fire last year around the same time but suffered I see Hr*, page IB I
» Courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory
Aerial. In this satellite photo taken Tuesday, wildfires send smoke across Southern California. At left center, Los Angeles is partially visible; at lower right, San Diego is completely hidden under the smoke.
Air quality expected to improve
Students who feel ill from smoke and ash in an should avoid the outdoors.
By CARA PRYOR
( ontributliig Wrltei
Students experiencing discom fort from the ash and smoke that has lingered in the Los Angeles area foi the past week from nearby wildfires may begin to feel some relief as cool ei temperatures Wednesday helped to dissipate the grit.
"It will take about a week for (the smoke particles) to naturally go away,” said Ronald Henry, pro fessor of civil and environmental engineering
The smoke particles are “so small that the force of gravity isn't enough to make them settle out of the atmosphere," he added.
Heavy smoke around campus has not been an issue for students in the urgent care facility at the University Park Health Center this past week, but students with asthma should be “particularly cautious,” said Dr. Lawrence Neinstein, execu tive director of the Health Center.
I see Air, page 13 I
Apartment complex marred by rat holes and droppings
Housing officials say that exterminators are working to fix the problem. Trash may he to blame for the problem.
Return of an old tradition
By LIDIANA PORTALES
Staff Writer
At Seven Gables Apartments on 30th Street, rat holes are scattered across the front lawn. Next door, at a neighboring donut shop, thick black lines mark the places where rats scurry up and down the side of the building.
Most residents at Seven Gables said they have not seen or heard rats inside their building since the beginning of the year, when USC Housing Services sent exterminators. A rodent problem persists outside their door, however.
Some students blame stagnant
INDEX
Even thr< months, offers su
water for attracting rats, and some local shopkeepers from a nearby shopping center blame piles of trash.
Bobby Drury, a graduate student in dentistry, said the rats scurry about after dark, attracted to the water gathered in potholes along the streets.
“The city was supposed to fix (the street) because you aren't supposed to have standing water," Drury said. “It smells horrible and it attracts rats.”
It is not clear whether the rat problem was caused by standing water or if other sanitary issues were to blame, said Jeff Urdahl, director of I see Rata, page 14 I
Homecoming parade hits Hahn Plaza Wednesday for first time in decades
BySUSHMA SUBRAMANIAN
Staff Writer
Cavemen holding clubs, girls in “Viva Las Vegas" attire and a big stuffed mastodon were just some of sights at the Homecoming Parade Wednesday.
Students crowded around Hahn Plaza to watch the first Homecoming parade in more than 30 years with about a dozen floats made by students. The marching band led the floats.
“We don’t know how many years exactly it’s been since the last Homecoming parade, but the last pictures we have of the parade are in black and white," said Heather Larabee, director of campus activities, who organized the event
The parade used to be held on Figueroa Street While yesterday’s parade wound around campus, starting at McCarthy Quad, organizers of the event say they hope the parade will be big enough in 10 years to shut down Exposition Boulevard.
Student groups and Greek organizations built their floats in four hours Tuesday evening, but began planning the structures two to three weeks ago.
Most of the floats were made by decorating campus golf carts. The only parts of the floats that were built ahead of time were parts that needed to be painted or glued so that float
Paniel Wong I Daily Troian
Parade. The Student Senate float is one of many floats to uphold the theme of ‘Clubbing the Cougar."
builders would not have to wait for parts to dry.
The results of the float competition will be announced with the coronation of Mr. and Miss USC at Tommy Trojan at 7 pjn. Thursday at Hahn Plaza.
“I think ours was the best" said Tanisha Hadley, a sophomore majoring in international relations and a member of the Helenes.
The Helenes’ float featured-playing cards, dice and poker chips with the theme of “Viva Las Vegas."
Other floats, with the theme of “dub the Cougars," a reference to the Trojans’ Homecoming opponent Washington State included a safari-themed vehicle with a tent of leaves by
Delta Gamma and Sigma Chi and a Flintstones family car with Dino’s head sticking out of the roof by Century Apartments.
Larabee approached the Campus Activities Leadership Council with the idea for a homecoming parade last year.
“Since I’ve been here, Homecoming has always been directed to the alumni,” Larabee said. “We needed something for the students."
Bobby Gilmore, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism, said the parade would help spark student spirit
“This is really cool because it’s like rallying the troops,” he said. “Hopefully it will bring more people out to the game."